The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-12
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anu San ranclsco ha1lfOaO on the night
of October %, thirty-six miles from St.
Louis. The most important clue was
obtainable through the ''.Iim Cum
mings" letters to st. Louis paper which
were written by Fred Witrock, who,
with man named Weaver, both engaged
in business in Chicago, were the prlncl-
pals in the affair. 4 portion Of the
500, 700 stolen was recovered from the
five men, from Witrock's wife and from
an innocent stranger, who had in good
faith undertaken to hold S4,50O for
Witrock. The detectives refuse to say
whether Express Messenger Frothlng-
ham Was concerned II the CRIME.
HOW IT WAS DONE.
Tonight the Pinllerton detective
officials revealed the facts OF the arrest
OF FIVE men for the robbery OF the
Adams Express car of SOC, 600 on the st.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad on the
night of October 25. Tie men under
arrest are Frederick Witrock, who is the
author of the 'sJim Cummings letters,
and is claimed to be the man who per
petrated the robbery; W. ". Haight, an
eS-employee Of Express Company, who
is supposed to have aided in planning
the robbery from his knowledge OF the
railroad s.run;' Thomas Weaver,
Chicago laundryman, who was nth
Witrock before and after the robbery:
Edward Kinney, hrother-in-law OF
Witrock upon whose body WAS found
considerable portion OF the express
money, and Oscar Cook, who hld Wat
rock after the robbery, and divided the
money and mailed the Jim Cummings
letters. The detectives have turned up
about $1,000 and estimate that from
$40, 900 to $45, 90 is still unaccountea for.
The detectives hit on no clue to the
robbers until the Jim Cummings let
ter was addressed to the st. Louis Globe
Democrat, and upon this they detected
the criminals. First they started to find
all the people who had left the service
of the Express Company during the
wear and found ". " Haight, who had
been discharged for theft and who had
been a messenger between St. Louis ana
yinita, Indian Territory, the same run
upon which was employed rockingham,
the messenger in charge of the plnmder-
ed car. Haight worked in Chicago for
Witrock, who kept coal yard, but lett
the city on October y, saying that he
was going to Florida He had been very
poor, but suddenly exhibited plenty OF
money.
The next step was the discovery that
Witrock and Weaver left this city on
October y, well armed and equipped
for hunting, which they said was their
object in Arkansas, whittier they were
going. Weaver returned to Chicago
October %, and after the robbery oc-
Cured the Cummings letter to the Globe
Democrat was received and stated that
be had gone to a point on the Missouri
river, opposite Labadie and toated
down in shf. At St. Charles the de-
tectves found that the two men answer
ing the description of Witrock and
Weaver had boughta a skif on October
IA, but had gone up the river.
USING THE MICROSCOPE.
From this point the search reverted TO
the bundle which stJim Cumming" ssid
in his letter he had left at the Union
Depot, st. Louis, and in it were discor-
cred some printed ballads, on one OF
which was the address 2l0S Chestnut
street, bat so faint as to b;' only DIS
cernible under the microscope. This
vas boarding house in st. Louis kept
Dy Mrs. Berry, who remembered that
" resembling Witrock and Weaver
had CO ne to her house on October Is,
and Weaver left on October %, saying
he was going to Kansas City, Witrock
ostensibly following him on the evening
Of October 25.
In the rooms the two men hao ecu
pied were found two stamps correspond
ing TO the labels on two ralses shipped
to st. Louis from st. Charles, which
proved to be the baggage Of the men
vino had procured the skif. at St
Charles. Then = watch was set over
Titrock and Weaver's places in Chicago,
and five weeks ago daughter and son
of Mrs. Berry came to Chicago identified
Weaver as one OF the men who had
roome0 at their house. Oscar Cook,
close friend Of Witrock, WAS found to
have gone to Kansas City, where he
lived at the house of woman named
Cox, but frequently lett tie city, his alb
sence being invariably followed by the
appearance OF one OF the Jim Cum
lnincs" letters. 4 detective ingratiated
himself with Cook and accompanied him
TO gambling houses in the glise of
friend, Cook always having plenty of
money. The lookout for Witroch was
Kept up in Chicago without avail until
last tuesday night, when another
shadow, whom the detectives did not
know, and large man looking like
Witrock entered Witrock's residence,
No. 10 Lincoln street Kinney was run
ming the coal yard for him, and having
gone to Quincy detective managed to
see there telegram to Kinney announc-
ing the return OF Witrock to Chicago,
and signed by the latter's wife, Rose.
FINDING MAN AND MONEY.
When Kinney returned to Chicago he
and Weaver were seen to cautiously en-
ter the Witrock House, the blinds OF
which were constantly drawn, although
lights could be seen inside. On Friday
morning the mysterious shadow came
out OF the Witrock House, as did also
Kinney, and, after making a careful sur
vey, Witcock appeared The men went
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